Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout

Brewed by Brooklyn Brewery
Style: Imperial Stout
Brooklyn, New York USA

(Winter 2005-2006)- Jet black oily pour with small brown head. Smells deep of chocolate. Thick full body with upfront alcohol warmth. Overwhelming thick chocolate malt character . Finishes dry with a very deeply highly roasted element and lingers on the palate with hints of coffee. Though it has lost some quality in the newer batches.

Menacing alcohol, chocolate and vanilla nose with some prunes or stewed fruit. Pours like NY sludge with a big cascading camel head. Initially presents a little tart and alcoholic, especially if its cold, but then it shifts gears towards the chocolate and coffee end of the spectrum. Long coffee finish. Mouthy, like oatmeal stout.

Pours a pitch black with a dissappointingly small head. Aroma is big on the coffee/mocha, though doesn’t really pack a punch. That is sure made up in the flavor though, which is huge chocholate, coffee, some lemon, cinnamon perhaps. Super creamy and super rich and oh so good. And for $7 for a 6-pack (!), this really can’t be beat.

Release 2003 – 2004: The beer pours an atramentous color with a thick behemothic chocolate colored head that last longer than the winter’s In Maine. The aroma of fresh coffee, sweet chocolate, malt, citrus crisp and fresh, start is delightfully sweet, rich in malt, the top full and rich in its feel to the palate. Finish is dynamically hopped, measured in its acidity, the aftertaste bittersweet chocolate dry and quite long lasting, a beer I wait for each year and always hate to see it go.

Release 2002 - 2003: As much as the Bell’s Expedition stout was devoid of head, this beer has a monumental head, creamy like whipped chocolate which is its color and as it evanesces, leaves behind a thick sheet of lace to smother the glass. The aroma of hot chocolate, sweet malt, hints of coffee and the toasted grains make this a quite sniffable brew, what a treat to this old honker. Sweet as chocolate fudge on the start, top thick and full to the palate, finish has a delightful amount of carbonation, the hops pertinent but not overpowering, bittersweet chocolate dry aftertaste that lingers on the palate for hours. Delightful stout, and a must if your into the dark side.

Bottle from Corks, Bristol. Dense, jet black with a moderate, tight tan head. Aroma of dark chocolate, tar, roasted malt and a touch of rum. Big mouth feel with the beer coating the tongue. More roasted malt in the flavour with dark, sligfhtly stewed fruit, chocolate and spice and a bitter tobacco finish. Excellent.

I was happy to find this at my last visit to London! Pours a tar black body with a fine dark tan head. What a beauty!! Aroma is nice and heavy. Lots of chocolate, dark roasted malt, hops, coffee and fruit. Flavor is very full and tasty. It starts with a fruity sourness and ends in a nice bitter coffee and hoppy finish with a fine alcoholic bite. I really love this stuff!

[1005-20071225] 12floz (c/o tuqueboy). Sweet roasty malt aroma has a hint of hops. Dark black brown body with quick tan bubbles. Coffee sweet molasses flavour has a fruity finish. Full body. Nice, a bit sweet, was expecting more chocolate.

(’05-’06 release) Appearance: Pours a soulless black from which no hope can escape. Looks good!! Tan, cocoa-ish head with little to no lacing throughout. Smell: Reminds me of Kahlua ’Especial’ coffee liqueur if anyone here is familiar with that. Espresso, fudge brownies, and a twing of smoke. You can also detect the delightful zip of alcohol in there. Taste: An unstoppable coffee-chocolate juggernaut. The flavors hit hard, full, and quite unforgiving. Moreover, there’s some hints of biscuits and syrah. Finishes leaving behind a bitter coffee essence to punish the tongue. Mouthfeel: Holds very solid in the mouth, but maintains a good creaminess. Drinkability: This is good, but I think I’ll toss it in the cellar; see if a little age will benefit this brew.